Operating device for window openers, screening arrangements and similar devices

ABSTRACT

An operating device for window openers, screening arrangement and similar devices comprising an operating rod ( 6 ) with a hook-shaped operating elements ( 5 ) in its end and a rotatable coupling element ( 3 ) connected to said window opener or screening arrangement and having the form of an essentially annular eye with an aperture ( 8 ) with an area which is considerably larger than the cross-section of the hook-shaped operating element ( 5 ) such that at the insertion of the hook-shaped operating element in said aperture, the coupling element can be turned by means of the operating rod while simultaneously pulling the coupling element, where the annular eye in connection with said aperture ( 8 ) comprises a narrowed additional aperture ( 10 ) which, at least upon reception of the hook-shaped operating element as a result of said pull, encircles the operating element relatively closely.

The present invention relates to an operating device for window openers,screening arrangements and similar devices and of the kind stated in theintroductory part of claim 1.

An operating device of the known type comprises a rod with an end hookintended for releasable engagement with an eye having an aperture, thearea of which is essentially larger than the cross-section of the hook.With this operating device, it is relatively easy to bring the hook intoengagement with the eye, but on the other hand, considerable attentionis required to avoid that the hook disengages the eye, in particular ifthe rod axis forms an angle with the rotational axis of the eye.

DE 4 231 504 discloses an operating device comprising an operating rodwith an end hook shaped as the FIG. 7, and a coupling element with anannular eye, the aperture of which has an area which is a little largerthan the cross-section of the hook. This operating device assures asecure engagement between the hook and the coupling element, however, itis very difficult to bring the hook into engagement with the eye of thecoupling element as the area of the aperture is only a little largerthan the cross-section of the hook.

The object of the invention is an operating device which can be operatedby operating rods provided with hooks of different shapes and which issimple to bring into engagement between the hook and the couplingelement and at the same time assures a secure engagement even if the rodaxis forms an angle with the rotational axis of the coupling element.

According to the invention, this is obtained in that the annular eye inconnection with said aperture comprises a narrowed additional aperturewhich, at least upon reception of the hook-shaped operating element as aresult of a pull, securely engages the operating element.

An operating device of this kind permits an easy insertion of thehook-shaped operating element into the essentially annular eye of thecoupling element, as the eye has an aperture with an area essentiallylarger than the cross-section of the hook-shaped operating element.Subsequently, the hook-shaped operating element can be moved to thenarrowed additional aperture whereby a secure engagement duringoperation is obtained even if the rod axis forms an angle with therotational axis of the operating element.

The engagement can according to the invention be further improved byproviding the coupling element in one or both of the annular profileswith at least three hinge portions. By this design, a squeezing effectcan be obtained around the hook-shaped element in the additionalaperture when at the same time, a pull of the hook-shaped element iseffected in a direction away from the large aperture.

According to an alternative embodiment, the engagement can be improvedby producing the entire or a part of the annular profile around theadditional aperture from an elastic material.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail withreference to the drawing, where

FIG. 1 is a section of the top inner corner of a window with a couplingelement,

FIG. 2 shows the coupling element seen in the direction of the opening,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coupling element seen obliquely frombelow,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coupling element seen obliquely fromabove,

FIG. 5 is an operating rod with a hook meant for engagement with thecoupling element, and

FIG. 6 is a coupling element with hinge portions.

FIG. 1 shows the top right corner of a window 1 where a drive with acoupling element 3 for a Venetian blind 4 is mounted on the main frame2.

The element 3 is meant for engagement with a hook 5 in one end of anoperating rod 6 shown in FIG. 5.

In the other end, the operating rod 6 has a crank handle 7 or anelectrical drive for turning the operating rod in clockwise orcounterclockwise direction when the Venetian blind is to be operated.

As seen in FIG. 2, the coupling element 3 is shaped as an annular eye inwhich an essentially keyhole-shaped cut comprises a first essentiallycircular aperture 8 with an area which is considerably larger than thecross-section of the hook 5 in connection to a smaller, narrowed secondaperture 10 with essentially the same area as the cross-section of thehook 5 via a narrowed opening 9.

By an appropriate choice of the size of the aperture 8, it is easy withthe operating rod 6 to catch the eye 8 with the hook 5, whereupon thehook 5 by pulling the rod 6 in a direction away from the window istransferred to the smaller aperture 10 via the opening 9. The opening 9can be adapted to the cross-section of the hook in such a way that thehook 5 is to be pulled through the opening at a certain predeterminedforce.

The coupling element may advantageously be designed with a mainlyrectangular cross-section of the annular profile 11 delimiting theaperture 8 and a mainly circular cross-section of the annular profile 12delimiting the aperture 10.

At the transition between the annular profiles 11 and 12, the couplingelement may appropriately be provided with shoulder-shaped stop faces 13for the hook 5 when the latter is in the aperture 10. Thus, a goodcontinuous engagement is assured for the hook 5 both when the rod axisduring operation stays flush with the rotational axis of the couplingelement such that the hook 5 is opposite the opening 9, and when the rodaxis forms an angle of e.g. 45° with the rotational axis of the couplingelement, the hook thus entering into abutment with one of the faces 13.

In the shown embodiment of the Venetian blind operating device, thecoupling element 3 can be connected with conventional drives for thepull and/or rise cords of the Venetian blind 4 through a flexible cable14 (Bowden cable) via an engagement secured against rotation e.g. with ahexagon profile 15 as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 6, the coupling element an appropriately be providedwith hinge portions 14, e.g. in the form of recesses in the annularprofile, insertions of elastic material, or in that the annular profileis assembled by several joints in rotary connections, or in a similarway. A compression of the small annular profile 12 is obtained aroundthe hook-shaped element 5 by a pull away from the circular aperture 8,whereby an even better engagement is assured.

Alternatively, the entire or a part of the annular profile 12 can beproduced from an elastic material, whereby the small annular profile 12can squeeze the hook-shaped element 5 by a pull away from the circularaperture 8, thus assuring a good engagement.

The operating device may also be used in connection with other forms ofwindow screenings such as roller blinds or roller shutters, or formanual operation of window operators. The operating device may also beused for operation of devices other forms of devices, e.g. hatches forattic stairs and alike.

What is claimed is:
 1. An operating system for closure devices, thedevices including window openers and screening arrangements, said systemcomprising a separate operating rod having at one end a hook-shapedoperating element for disengageable connection with a rotatable couplingelement connected to said device, said coupling element having the formof an eyelet with a first aperture with a center and having an areawhich is considerably larger than the cross-section of the hook-shapedoperating element such that at the insertion of the hook-shapedoperating element in said first aperture, the coupling element can beturned by the operating rod while simultaneously pulling the operatingrod, wherein said coupling element further comprises a narrowedadditional aperture with a center and in communication with the firstaperture, the centers of the first aperture and the additional aperturebeing mutually off-set, to receive and securely engage with thehook-shaped operating element.
 2. An operating system according to claim1, wherein the first aperture of the eyelet is essentially circular andlimited by an annular profile with a mainly rectangular cross-section,whereas the additional aperture is limited by an annular profile with anessentially circular cross-section, said additional aperture havingessentially the same area as the cross-section of the hook-shapedoperating element.
 3. An operating system according to claim 2, whereinthe coupling element comprises shoulder-shaped stop faces at thetransition between the annular profiles.
 4. An operating systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the eyelet of the coupling elementcomprises a narrowed opening between the first aperture and theadditional aperture.
 5. An operating system according to claim 2,wherein at least a part of the annular profile of the additionalaperture is made of an elastic material.